The influence of no-tillage, reduced tillage, straw and green manure on luvisol physical properties and earthworm populations
2005
Boguzas, V., Lithuanian Univ. of Agriculture, Akademija, Kauno reg. (Lithuania) | Kairute, A., Lithuanian Univ. of Agriculture, Akademija, Kauno reg. (Lithuania) | Jodaugiene, D., Lithuanian Univ. of Agriculture, Akademija, Kauno reg. (Lithuania)
Many studies in European and other countries have showed positive effects of reduced tillage and no-tillage systems on physical properties of various soils. However, some data also show that the results are less positive under humid conditions. There's also lack of information about the effect of green manure and straw management under no-tillage and reduced tillage systems. Stationary two-factor experiment was carried out in the Experimental station of Lithuanian University of Agriculture. Continuous spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was grown over the period of 2000-2003. Soil physical properties: bulk density, porosity, moisture content, water infiltration rate and earthworm numbers were measured under the following tillage systems - deep ploughing (15-25 cm), shallow ploughing (10-12 cm), shallow cultivation with heavy cultivator and disc harrows (8-10 cm), shallow spring rotavation (5-6 cm), shallow grass-clover (Trifolium pratense L. and Phleum pratense L.) green manure incorporation with rotavator in spring (5-6 cm) and notillage. Straw, green manure and tillage systems had no significant influence on soil bulk density and porosity. Shallow green manure incorporation significantly increased moisture content in barley at tillering stage. No-tillage and reduced tillage treatments significantly increased the amount of water stable aggregates. No-tillage, shallow spring rotavation and green manure increased water infiltration rate and had highly positive effect on numbers and biomass of earthworm populations.
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